Namibia's new president inaugurated

WINDHOEK - Namibia's 25 years of independence on Saturday was marked with a colourful military parade in a sports stadium and the swearing-in of the country's third president Hage Geingob.

"Today 25 years ago a new and liberated nation was born after a long struggle for freedom, for which our heroes and heroines paid a high price and moulded a new nation," outgoing President Hifikepunye Pohamba told a packed stadium.

"Namibia obtained its freedom through the help of many friendly nations like Angola, Zambia, Tanzania and Cuba," Pohamba said.

Pohamba handed Geingob the symbols of power -- the national seal, the national flag and a specially bound copy of the Constitution. Geingob then took the oath of office.

He was sworn in by Namibia's Chief Justice Peter Shivute.

As Head of State, Geingob is now also Commander-in-Chief of the Namibia Defence Force.

Several Heads of State, among them Zambia, Zimbabwe, Angola, King Mswati of Swaziland, South African vice-preisdent Cyril Ramaphosa, former president Thabo Mbeki and African Union Commission Chairperson Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma attended the ceremony.